Although the passage of the bill seemed a fait accompli since Democrats took control both of chambers of the General Assembly this session, that doesn’t make the move toward relationship equality any less noteworthy.

And it still faced considerable opposition from Republicans, but they were outnumbered this year, as opposed to last year when they controlled the House.

It seems like ages ago that the House GOP leadership stalled the civil unions bill, refusing to allow it up for a floor vote, but it was just last year. In 2011, a civil unions bill died in the House Judiciary committee, controlled by the GOP.

This time around, one Republican in the Senate and two in the House voted for civil unions. Sen. Jean White, R-Hayden[3], Rep. Carole Murray, R-Castle Rock, and Rep. Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen, deserve respect for bucking their party and voting for equality.

Now, the bill heads to the governor’s desk where it will assuredly be signed into law. It’s a milestone for relationship equality in Colorado that will only be superseded when the state removes the constitutional barrier to gay marriage.